Harpenden’s Sarah McKenna has been handed a central contract to represent England Women’s Sevens squad for the 2017-18 season.

She will be joined by eight of the 14-strong squad that represented Team GB in the Rio Olympics.

Emily Scarr Eight of the wider 14-player Team GB Olympic squad are named in the EPS including, England Women vice-captain and Team GB captain Of those eight, Emily Scarratt, Natasha Hunt, Emily Scott, Amy Wilson Hardy and Megan Jones were also part of the side beaten by New Zealand in last month’s Women’s Rugby World Cup final by New Zealand.

Vicky Fleetwood, Alex Matthews and Lydia Thompson also took part in the tournament in Ireland.

The squad will play in a number of major global tournaments this year, including the HSBC Women’s Sevens World Series and next year’s Commonwealth Games, which is set to take place on the Gold Coast in April.

Simon Amor, who was appointed Head of England Men’s and Women’s Sevens programmes earlier this year, said: “Since the Rio Olympics 12 months ago, the growth of the HSBC Women’s Sevens Series has taken international women’s sevens to a completely different level.

“We are therefore under no illusions as to the challenge we face in reintegrating the World Cup players, getting them sevens fit and building the team, its culture and our systems of play in preparation for the start of the World Series.

“However we know we have an incredibly talented squad and with this season being an exceptionally exciting one for the women’s sevens game with both the Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens, our focus will be driven around success at these major tournaments”